Foldable table



Fb.27, 1940. F, Fqowoom 2,191,772.

FOLDABLE TABLE Filed Jan. 25, 1939 ti w "W" J 1 :5 '3 .EIII #0 i I} W iii if V r j; if

llH-" I I v INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Feb. 27, 1940 I FOLDABLE TABLE Floyd Frederick OToole, LAnse, Michi, assignor Brennan, LAnse, Mich.

1 Application January 25, 1939, Serial No. 252,812

2 Claims.

' The invention relates to a table and more particularly to tables having foldable legs, commonly known as card tables.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a table of this character, whereinv the legs thereof may be folded against the under side of the tabletop and are associated with each other so that whenswinging any one of the legs to or from an extended or supporting position the remaining legs will be simultaneously moved and thus enabling convenient and easy setting up or folding of such table with dispatch. Another object of'the invention is the provision of a table of this character, wherein the legs when in supporting position will be latched so as to eliminate the collapsing or folding of the table or the legs thereof during the use of the same, the means for the simultaneous operation of the legs on manually swinging any one of the same is of novel construction.

A further object of the invention is the provi- H simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable, emcient and practical in operation, strong, dur-" v able, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table constructed in accordance with the invention showing the legs folded against the under side thereof and such table being partly broken away for illustrating details of construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, certain parts being broken away and the legs disclosed folded by full lines and by dotted lines extended.

. Similar reference characters indicate correthe accompanying drawing, which discloses the a sponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing. I I

The inventionis adaptable for the construction of various types of tables, more particularly r adaptable totables commonly known as card tables in which the legs are fold-able against the under side of the table top so that the table may be folded into compact condition for the storage thereof in theleast possiblespace when such table is not inuse and the table illustrated is of that type. I

'The table in the present instance comprises a top 5 of substantially equilateral or square shape, although it may be of other shape, and is constructed from any suitable material, being finished or covered at the upperside thereof in a manner as may be further desirable. Marginally of the top 5 is a flange-like rim 6 which is continuous throughout the sides of the said table while disposed inwardly in parallel relation to the rim which protrudes from the under side of the top are strips I, these being disposed parallel with the said rim at all sides of the top 5 to prov vide a channel or groove 8 between the said rim and strips. The strips 1 are slightly separated at 5 adjacent ends to each other. At the separated ends of the strips 1 and mounted at the under side of the top 5 within the channel or groove 8, that is to say, approximating four corners of the table top 5 are guide pulleys or rollers 9 over 30 which is trained a flexible endless steel tape I0 adapted for movement for a purpose presently described.

The table shown is provided with swinging legs II, these pivoted at I2 next to the four corners of the top 5 for swinging movement inwardly of and in parallel relation to the strips 1 so that such legs can be folded against the under side of the table or extended to supporting position, being all mounted in the same manner. Thus each swings in the same direction in relation to the periphery of the table from their individual corners and lie substantially parallel with the said strips I when they are folded against the under side of the table top. Associated with the tape I0 and lying withi the channel or groove B'are sprocket chain sections I3,'one for each side of the table top and common to a leg at such side, while meshing with these sections I3 are sprocket gears I4, each being fixed to a journal I5 in a bearing It therefor built inthe rim 6 and strip 1 adjacent thereto, the said bearing I6 being of a character to afford a clearance for the meshing engagement of the sprocket gear I5 with its companion chain section 13. The journals I5 have fixed thereto swinging braces 11, each having a slidable stud connection l8 with a leg I I, the latter being provided with a slot !9 in which-is slidably fitted the stud connection E8. The slot l9 extends longitudinally of the leg I l and has an oifset end portion 28 in which the stud connection 3 comes to rest when the said leg is vin extended or tablesupporting position for the latching of the brace H with the leg to avoid accidental folding of said leg when the table is set up for use. The brace I1 operates the gear l4 meshing with the chain section i3 when a selected leg ll is swung,;

either inwardly against the under sideofv the table top 5 or outwardly to an extended position, and this selected leg when, operated imparts similar movements to the remainder. of the legs so that they will be simultaneously folded or unfolded similarly to the "movement of the selected leg when manually moved. ,On the swing: ing of a selected leg I] inwardly, the latch connection of the brace l1 there-with will be broken or disrupted and this occurring with all of the braces when the said legs are extended to supporting position so that all ofth e legs will be simultaneously folded with each other. y

In the. operation of the table, it is only required of an operator to merely swing inwardly any one of the legs and the other legs move simultaneously therewith, this action being had both for the folding of the legs or the unfolding thereof. It may be necessary that one of the braces ll that is to say, the selected leg to be operated, be manually unlatchedfrom engagement therewith so that the other legs will be caused to automatically unlatch from the braces and such legs simultaneously folded inwardly against the under side of the table top.

What is claimed is:

1. In a table, a top, pulleys arranged at spaced points on the under side of said top,"legs close to the pulleys and pivoted to the top for folding inwardly against the same, an endless tape mov-' ably fitted to a companion legwhereby when oneibrace operates its sprocket Wheel and chain sec-v tion, the other chain sections are'operating the other gears and attached braces and moving all of the legs in unison with each other.

2. In a table, a top, pulleys arranged at spaced points on the under side of said top, legs close to the pulleys and pivoted to the top for folding inwardly against the same, an endless tape mov= able over the pulleys and having short flexible sprocket chain sections between the said pulleys,

sprocket gears fixedly'journaled in place between, the legs for meshing with the sprocket chain sections, respectively, a swinging one-piece brace for operating each sprocket gear andslidably fitted to a companion leg whereby when one brace operates its sprocket wheel and chain sec: tion, the other chain sections are operating the other gears and attached braces and moving all of the legs in unison with each other, and lugs formed on the braces, the said legs having slots longitudinally disposed therein, each with an offset end and slidably receiving the lugs for limiting the swing of the legs and relieving strain from the pivotal connections betweenthe latter and thetop.

FLOYD rfmroonnv 

